The state of Texas is continuing its descent away from democracy and equality for its citizens. First came its horrifying rollback of women’s rights with its recent abortion ban. Then came its recent attack on trans students’ ability to participate in sports. Now, Texas lawmakers are at it again, this time attempting to censor 850 books that lawmakers say could cause “discomfort” for students reading them.
Corky Siemaszko of NBC News reported that “a Texas Republican lawmaker has drawn up a list of 850 books on subjects ranging from racism to sexuality that could ‘make students feel discomfort,’ and is demanding that school districts across the state report whether any are in their classrooms or libraries.”
According to Siemaszko, “State Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, also wants to know how many copies of each book the districts have and how much money they spent on them, according to the letter he sent Monday [Oct. 25] to Lily Laux, deputy commissioner of school programs at the Texas Education Agency, and several school district superintendents.”